This could be the end of Jimmy Vesey’s NHL days.
According to RG, several KHL teams, such as Ak Bars Kazan, Dinamo Minsk, and China’s Kunlun Red Star, are all interested in the 2016 Hobey Baker Award winner for top player in men’s college hockey.
RG also revealed this quote from a source close to Vesey:
“Jimmy has been asking a lot of questions about how things work in the KHL and is seriously considering offers from the top European league.”
Vesey, 32, was originally selected by the Nashville Predators in the third round of the 2012 Draft, but refused to sign with them and eventually landed with the New York Rangers in August of 2016.
He had a productive first few seasons with the Rangers, notching goal totals of 16, 17, 17, and point totals of 27, 28, and 35. While Vesey never quite panned out, especially given his historic career at Harvard University, he has bounced around multiple franchises since leaving New York in 2019.
Vesey would return to the Rangers for the 2022-23 campaign and was traded with Ryan Lindgren to the Colorado Avalanche in what was mostly a salary dump deal. He is currently an unrestricted free agent.
Heading over to Europe or even Asia is nothing new for aging NHLers, as some notable current KHL skaters include Alexander Radulov, Adam Ružička, and Evgeny Kuznetsov, although the last is reportedly eager to rejoin the NHL.
If this is it for Vesey, congratulations on a nine-year run in the world’s top league and an unforgettable tenure in Cambridge.
